18 October Tag

COSTA RICA, Gonzalo Vega and Maria Fischer • On the eve of the first Covenant Day of the year 2017, we looked toward Costa Rica, where in two months’ time, on 18 March, Central America’s greatly anticipated first Shrine will be blessed. Many share the dream of a woman from Germany: “May we spiritually unite to the blessing of Costa Rica’s Shrine during all the Covenant Masses, and perhaps, even with some prayer that they are praying in Costa Rica.  Family from Costa Rica will you give us this gift?”Read More
PARAGUAY, Ani Souberlich • Every year on 18 October, there is an unprecedented celebration in Tupãrenda; it is the largest pilgrimage to a Schoenstatt Shrine in the world. Year after year, more than 40,000 people go on pilgrimage to the Tupãrendá Shrine to greet the Schoenstatt’s Mother Thrice Admirable. They bring their Pilgrim Mothers adorned with flowers; these traveling shrines visit them in their homes year after year. Year after year, hundreds of Schoenstatters place themselves at the pilgrims’ service. Year after year, bishops from the area along with twoRead More

Posted On 06.11.2016In Covenant Life

A different morning

PARAGUAY, Sandra Lezcano • Tuesday, the 18th was a day different from others. I was not leaving hurriedly to get to the office, but rather, I was eager to arrive at Tupãrenda on time to greet the Blessed Mother, who makes and breaks my life. At dawn on this day, it already felt hot; undoubtedly we would have a very hot gathering as usual in Paraguay. However this morning there was a breeze, unlike others, because although the sun was hot, the breeze was cool, because a mother always takesRead More
BELMONTE ROME, Maria Fischer • “Let us run to the city of David…” perchance did the author of this beautiful German Christmas carol find himself, at one time, in the daily Roman traffic jam, looking at his GPS, which showed the arrival time threateningly indicating that it coincide with the beginning of the Covenant Mass in the Belmonte Rome International Center, while the co-pilot was saying out loud: “Push, push, push”? Disregarding all the non-Roman traffic laws, we finally crossed through the Center’s entrance gate punctually at 5:30 p.m., whileRead More
PARAGUAY, Lena Barrios de Ortiz • The celebration for 18 October at Ciudad del Este Shrine, which also recently celebrated its 15th anniversary’s blessing, began early in the morning with a children’s Mass. It is a Mass that has been held at the Shrine for several years as part of 1,000,000 Children praying the Rosary campaign Church in Need sponsoring it. Children led the rosary. During the homily, Fr. Tommy Nin Mitchell, Director of the Schoenstatt Movement at Paraguay, encouraged the children’s participation by asking them: “Why do you comeRead More